SWAG Concerned About MESS, NSC And GFA

THE Sportswriters Association of Ghana (SWAG), has expressed worry over the emerging rift between the Sports Council and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports, and the proposed delayed elections for the GFA.

The Association said it had noted with unease a growing tension between the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports (MoESS) and the National Sports Council (NSC).

This tension, according to the Association, had regrettably developed into a power play, lack of co-operation and an unnecessary media war.

'The SWAG expects both the Ministry and the Sports Council to be preoccupied with pertinent issues like the effective and profitable management of the four new stadia, provision of modern sporting equipment, better funding of the various sports associations, revival of school sports, among others.

'As key players in Ghana sports who wield a lot of power in the corridors of power, the SWAG wants to appeal to the Deputy Minister and the National Sports Council boss to use their influence to get Parliament to pass into law the much-anticipated Sports Bill (to replace the SMCD 54) which has sadly been ignored since it was drafted in 2005', the statement added.

The SWAG also revisited the case of a proposal by the Executive Committee of the Ghana Football Association to seek a postponement of elections for executive positions until 2011 in view of Ghana’s expected participation in both the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations and the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup.

According to the statement, 'In the opinion of SWAG, the arguments put forward by the GFA Executive Committee are not very sound.

'Even though the SWAG has no representation on the GFA Executive Committee, elections of this kind are of national interest and are rooted in the rule of law and accountability of stewardship, very significant pillars of our democracy, and should not be sacrificed on the altar of managing Ghana’s World Cup qualification.

'It is not continuity by an administration that has outlived its constitutional mandate that will ensure that Ghana qualifies for South Africa 2010, but rather a carefully planned and well managed World Cup campaign with the necessary success factors put in place.

The SWAG noted with interest that three years ago those at the helm now assumed office at a very crucial stage of Ghana’s 2006 World Cup campaign when Coach Ratomir Dujkovic had just taken over the Black Stars following the departure of Coach Mariano Barreto.